No One Knows Of 'THAT DAY Nor THAT HOUR'

ONE FINAL TIME:     ON 'THAT DAY' NOR 'THAT HOUR'.     September 12, 2015

 

Hardly any verse has been quoted more back to me as "no one knows 'that day' and 'that hour' (Mark 13:32; Matthew 24:36), and misapplied to the rapture of the Church. Of course for one who embraces the Post-Tribulation position it seems clear to them that the passages are speaking in view of their position. These reason that God will see the Church through the tribulation and at the end, take it out of the way and to heaven, to return back to enter the kingdom of heaven millennially. But if they stay in context they will see that Jesus Christ comes down by himself and not with the saints. And by the very title of the position of post-tribulation, it is implied that this happens after that the tribulation is finished, accomplished once the war of Armageddon has just seen its course. Another position called the Pre-wrath position makes more sense when God removes the Church as to not making her the recipient of his wrath, avoiding Armageddon and perhaps the vials/bowls too. And given that a rapture implies a resurrection from the dead/a bodily change of the living as well to bodies of glory, in addition to the translation of all such to the Father's house, to await the Lord's return to inaugurate his messianic kingdom, in both cases the stay in heaven seems to be relatively short.

 

And many in the pre-tribulation position likewise take the words in Matthew 24:36 to imply that of that day nor that hour no one knows, applies to the rapture. Brethren, read the context please and stop using that phrase as if it is correct to misapply it to your understanding.  Notice that in Matthew 24:29 it is   spoken to as having had finality to the great tribulation and Armageddon complete, for immediately after we will see everywhere the sign of the Son of man returning, as lightening is seen from east to west. In the very presence of utter darkness for light is not given by the sun nor the moon, the Son of man would be returning in the clouds, in full glory, all by himself (the passage does not speak of anyone else), in the same manner as he ascended, for the whole world to see.


 And the Lord sends his angels to regather from all four corners of the earth the tribes (Jews) of his elect (the chosen remnant, his people) back to Israel. It is described as the fig tree that was barren of leaves, now replenishing such leaves back on it as he brings them back from their second, last/final captivity,  for restoration and outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that these can receive Him in mourning "as one mourneth for his only son (Zechariah 12:10). Notice that the expression by the phrase that day nor that hour refers to the time of his second coming, as he lands on this earth to begin his earthly reign in the whole earth. There is not rapture here at all, it is not speaking as coming for his Church but it is speaking as coming to Israel, his people the remnant, and these must not delay to receive Him as Messiah the Lord, or they will miss entering the kingdom. Why would you think the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 follows these passages, if it were not for to tell the remnant not to delay in getting the Holy Spirit (the oil in the lamps of the 10 virgins) for they did not know exactly when he would set foot on the earth and miss being ready to go in with him to the marriage (Matt. 25:10)? Study this matter well for it is neither difficult to understand nor does it give us license to use it incorrectly to support a doctrinal error.

 

And this too applies to the post-tribulation and pre-wrath positions that apply this phrase incorrectly, out of context, failing to see that which it is encouraging, to watch and be sober and ready when the Lord sets foot on the land to usher in the beginning of his millennial kingdom.

 And there will not be another occasion to review this matter anymore brethren. Pray this blesses you and any other that takes the time to seek the very truths of God.